Uncoupling device



July 30, 1935. I A. J. BAZELEY 2,009,426

UNCOUPLI'NG DEVICE Filed April 11, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l w avwentoz' I Jfnkur IBazeZq I/ 33 m au July 30, 1935. A. J. BAZELEY UNCOUPLING DEVICE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 11, 1931 MM TYW 1 Z: .|.l.IlJ aw FLU gwuwwboz firtkur fBaz aley Momma y 9 1935- A. J. BAZELEY 2,009,426

UNGOUPLING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 amw/wtoz AM 474m A. -J. BAZELEY 2,009,426

UNCOUPLING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 awuentoz om 33%;; @111 h July 30, 1935. J. BAZELEY 2,009,426

UNCOUPLING DEVICE Filed April 11, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented July 30, 1935 UNITED" STATES UNCOUPLING DEVICE .Arthur J. Bazelcy, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 11, 1931, Serial No. 529,403

13 Claims.

Association standard D type coupler from the bottom 01 the coupler.

It has been a primary object of the invention to develop suitable mechanism of this character which is simple to construct and assemble and at the same time has a relatively easy action at all points in the operation and regardless of the angular and longitudinal displacement of the coupler. A difficult problem has been presented in the development of uncoupling devices which may be applied to standard railway car structures without interference with the regular train line connections and other parts, and which are reliable in their operation under all conditions. The devices contemplated by the present invention are particularly well adapted for application to passenger cars, including Pullman cars, and to freight cars used in passenger service, requiring steam line connections as well as the usual air line connections. As applied to Pullman cars the construction is such'that regardless of the position of the coupler in its wide range of permissible angling the uncoupling action will take place without binding of any of the parts.

A particular feature of the invention is the provision of a unitary member pivotally supported by the coupler, at the bottom and at the rear of the head of the and adapted to receive a pushing force on one arm which is transmitted in the same plane, to the lock of the coupler for operating the latter. The operating linkage provided for the transmission of force, from an operating lever to the unitary member is such that regardless of the angular or longitudinal position of the coupler there will be no binding of the parts and the force will betransmitte-d in a direction affording a large, effective component. This is made particularly true at the point in the operation where the greatest resistance to the movement of the lock is encountered.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of several illustrative forms of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a front, elevational view of a car coupler having the improved uncoupling mechanism applied thereto; the construction here shown is particularly applicable to freight car structures.

3 Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. of

the devices shown in Figure 1, the parts being shown in their normal positions.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the parts in their fully shifted positions. I

Figure l is a front, elevational view', with the coupler shown in section, of the improved devices as applied to a Pullman car structure.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the construction shown in Figure 4 with the parts shown in their normal positions.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 with the parts shown in their fully shifted positions.

Figure 7 is a detail view in front elevation of a. modified form of connection between certain of the operating elements. V

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 further modification. I

Figure 9 is a perspective View of an element employed in the construction of Figure 8.

Figure 10' is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a still further modification.

Figure 11 is a perspective View of an element used in the construction of Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a detail view in side elevation of a modified element employable in the construction.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, which show an illustrative form of the invention as applied to a freight car structurejparticularly of the type employed in passenger. service, there is shown a coupler which is of the A. R. A. standard D type, having a head l0 and a shank H supported by the end sill l2 of a car frame. The coupler is provided with a knuckle 53 which is adapted to be locked in coupling position and which may be thrown to efiect uncoupling by the action of a lock element 1 4 carried within the head. In the rear of the lock, and preferably at the point where the head is merged with the shank of the coupler, there is provided a pair of downwardly extending ears or lugs l5 adapted to support an integral rod portion "3. A member I? isprovidcd with ahooked portion 18 adapted to be engaged over and retainedby the rod is and is adapted tobe rocked about the rod as a pivot through a sufiicient angle to effect the necessary movement of the look I 4. An upwardly extending portion 19 of the member I1 is provided with an opening which receives a laterally extending stud or projection carried by a toggle link 20. The upper end' of this link car rise a similar'stud which is received by an inclined slot 2| at the lower end of the look I.

, An opening 22 formed in a downwardly extend-1' ing portion of the member H. which is substanofa tially in the plane of the upward extension l9 and the lock I4, is adapted to receive an eye or hooked portion 23 of an operating rod or link 24. Secured to this rod and forming an extension thereof, there is provided a flat plate 25 having its upper end bent at right angles and provided with an opening adapted to surround the rod 24. A similar opening through the body of the plate is adapted to receive a right-angled extension 21 of the rod, the two parts being held in the position shown by any suitable means, as by a cotter pin 23, The lower end of the plate 25 is bent to form a completely closed loop 28. This loop is adapted to receive a crank portion 33 of an operating lever 3|. Due to the provision of the flat plate as an extension of the link, the connection with the crank 33 will be such that sliding of the link along the crank and turning of the link about its longitudinal axis when a force is transmitted to it will be substantially prevented.

At its outer end the lever 3| is carried by an car 32 formed on a bracket 33 secured to the end sill of the car structure. The ear 32 is provided with an opening which receives the lever 3|. A downwardly bent portion 34 of the lever affords an operating handle which normally rests against a projection 35 carried by the bracket, In order to prevent longitudinal movement of thelever 3| during angling movements of the coupler, an ear 36 is provided on the bracket 33 in a position to cooperate with the bent portion 34. Adjacent its inner end the lever 3| is supported by a fixed pivot, preferably provided by a plate 31 bolted, or otherwise secured, to a portion of the car frame. At the extreme imier end of the lever it is provided with a small right-angled extension 38 which serves to prevent disengagement of the loop 29 from the crank portion 30 of the lever. As the coupler is forced inwardly during buff the loop 29 and the vertical arms of the crank 30 are brought more nearly into parallelism and there would be danger of disengagement if the extension 38 were not provided.

In effecting uncoupling, the handle 34 is grasped and drawn forwardly or to the right, in Figures 2 and 3. The crank portion 33 of the lever will then be shifted from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3. Engagement of the crank with the upper portion of the loop 29 will cause the rod or link 24 to be shifted upwardly and toward the right, thus rocking the member I! about its pivot l6 and lifting and rocking the lock l4 to operate the knuckle. The point in the operation at which the greatest resistance is encountered is that at which the knuckle is first engaged by the knuckle thrower and started in its opening movement. This point is intermediate between the two positions indicated in Figures 2 and 3. It will be apparent that at such an intermediate point the crank 30 will transmit a substantially longitudinal force to the link 24 and the latter will act upon the member I? in such a way as to provide a maximum effective lever arm. This makes all of the turning effort applied to the handle 34 available in the most efiective manner for the initial operation of the knuckle. In the event that the latter has become stuck due to rusting or accumulation of ice, a maximum releasing effort will be transmitted to it. It will be noted, furthermore, that due to the form of the member H, the operating forces will be transmitted to this member at a point substantially centralized with respect to its pivotal support and in direct line with the force transmitted by the member to the look. This tends to eliminate any binding action of the parts which would have a tendency to increase the wear and reduce the efficiency of the mechanism. Furthermore, due to the form of connection between the link 24 and the crank 33, the operating forces will be transmitted effectively regardless of the angular or longitudinal position of the coupler within the limits permitted.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that in the course of throwing the knuckle a toggle is in effect provided by the lock I 4, forming one side, and the link 20 together with the alined portion of the member l1, forming the other side of the toggle. The pivotal connection between the link 20 and the lower leg of the lock forms the midpoint of the toggle which, in the throwing of the knuckle, is collapsed by the movement of the point of connection at 22, of the rod 24 with the member l1, toward the pivot near the top of the lock about which it is rocked. As is well known, the effective force exerted adjacent the midpoint of a toggle increases as the collapse of the toggle progresses. It will be apparent therefore that throughout the knuckle throwing operation the force applied to the knuckle thrower will be on the increase since the collapse of the toggle will be continually progressing.

The provision of the elongated loop 29 permits the couper to take its normal operating movements without interference by the operating lever and without disturbing the position of the lock. The form and arrangement of all the parts is such that no interference will take place with any portion of the coupler either during movements of the coupler or during operation of the lock in any position of the coupler. The member I! rocks freely into the opening in the bottom of the coupler and the link 24 at all times avoids interference with the lugs l and rod I6.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, a modified form of the invention as applied to a passenger car of the Pullman type will be described. The coupler 4| in this case is carried by a slidable frame 42 which is adapted to be shifted transversely of the car to a limited extent along ways carried by a frame or carry iron 43 secured to the end sill of the car. This construction,

which is standard in connection with Pullman cars, is necessitated by the great length of these cars. It is necessary to provide for a greater angular movement of the coupler head to permit the car to properly take the sharper curves encountered in transit over the road. The coupler is preferably of the same standard A. R. A. type D as employed in the first embodiment. It is provided in rear of the coupler lock and below the shank with a pair of downwardly extending ears or lugs 45 carrying a fixed pivot rod 46. The latter is adapted to receive the hooked portion 4! of a lift member 48 which is adapted to pivot freely about the rod 46 to the extent re quired in the operation of the lock. An upward extension 49 of this member is connected by a toggle link 50 with the coupler lock 5|, the latter being provided with an inclined slot 52 adapted to receive a stud at the upper end of the link. At its lower end the member 48, which is in all respects similar to the member I1, is provided with an opening 53 adapted to receive the eye 54 of an operating rod or link 55. The latter may, if desired, be of the same construction as the link 24, although it is shown as consisting of a somewhat longer rod portion and a smaller plate 5. The la ter is simp y bentat ri ht anale and s prov ded w th two openings, one Sure roundin he main lon i udinal portion of the rod 55am, t e o h r ur oundin a ri ht-an led port on 51 f he rod. Any suitabl means, such as a cott pin 58, m y, be provid d for retainin the plat -and rod in their pr per relations.

Wi hin the loop p ovided between the rod and the plate there is carried a crossbar 59 of a bail having side arms (it) providedadjacent their ends w Op n ngs adapted to; receive pivot pins 54. The latter are carried in any suitable Way by mall downward y xtending lugs 62 formed on h a y iron r frame .43. They. may suitably, be provided with enlarged heads at one end and may be retained by cotter pins at the opposite ends. A looped portion 63 of an operatins lever 64; is also pivotally supported by each of the pins El, this loop being passed in rear of one of the arms so of the bail. It will be understood that the same construction is preferably provided at each end of the bail so that the latter may be operated from either side of the car. Adjacent its outer end each of the levers 54 is pivotally supported by a bracket 65 carried by the end sill of the car. A downwardly bent portion 65 of the lever serves as an operating handle for effecting the uncoupling opera tion, and an extension 65% of the bracket 65 provides a stop for the operating handle, to thus prevent its movement in a direction other than ha es red.

When it is desired to operate the lock the handle 65 is simply grasped and drawn forwardly, thereby rotating the lever about its pivotal supports at 65 and 61. The looped portion of the lever will engage the arm (ill of the bail so and will cause the latter to be rocked about the pivots 6| in a clockwise direction, Figures and 6. In this movement the rod or link 55 will be shifted longitudinally'and will cause the member 48 to be rocked from the position shown in Figure 5 tothat shown in Figure 6. Here, again, it will be noted that at the point in the operation of the lock where the greatest resistance is encountered, the bail will transmit its turning force most effectively to the link 55 and the latter will in turn operate at the greatest leverage upon the member 48. This will tend to overcome any tendency of the parts to stick due to rusting, or the like. Asthe coupler is angled to one side or the other, it will be apparent that the loop provided between the rod 55 and plate 56 will simply slide along the bail 59 and the effective action of the. parts will not be interfered with. The weight of the plate will tend'to maintain the proper relation between the parts. As the coupler is drawn outwardly in draft from the position shown in Figure 5 the link 55 will simply ride outwardly with respect to the cross bar 59, or the latter may be rocked slightly about the pivots 6!. Due to the width of the plate 58 it will effectively prevent any tendency of the rod 55 to roll over on the cross bar as the lever is operated.

In the assembly of this form of the invention, the ball 59 and the levers 54 are first mounted on the car frame by means of the pins GI and by passing the handles 66 through the openings in the brackets 65. The pivoted member 48 may be applied to the rod 45 and the toggle link 50 connected withthe extension $9 of the member. By removing the coupler knuckle the lock 5| will be. permitted to drop to a point where the upper and of the togglelink may be attached to it; The. look; may then be lifted again and the knuckle put in place. Eye 54 of the rod 55 may now be passed through the opening 53 and the rod permitted to rest on the. cross bar of the ball 59. By lifting the rod slightly the plate 55 may be applied in such a way as to form the 1 loop around the cross bar and the cotter pin 58 may be inserted to complete the assembly. When the parts are assembled they can not become accidentally separated. The member 48, for example, can not rotate sufilciently to drop off the rod 46.

In Figure 7 a slightly modified form of conn-ection between the bail and the operating lever :34 is shown. The construction here illustrated is such that operating levers of the type now commonly found on passenger cars may be utilized without any change. These lovers are not sufficiently long to extend in rear of the arms as and be pivotally supported by the pins 6|, in the manner of levers. so, as shown in Figure 4. To enable the use of the existing levers, the pins may be replaced by U-shaped members 6'! which are carried in any suitable way by the lugs or projections 62 and serve to pivotally support the arms 60 of the bail. These. U-shaped members havetheir arms 53 extended in rear of the arms so. The looped portion 69 of the operating lever surrounds the upper arm. of the U-shaped memher while an elbow formed below this, loop is adapted to engage the rear side of the arm 6.8.. It will be apparent that as the lever 64 is rocked in the manner previously explained. the member 6i, will be rotated about its upper arm While its lower arm 88 will cause thebail to be rocked in the same manner as before. It will be ob served that either form of connection between the operating levers and ball, illlustrated, is such that either of the operating levers may be utilized to effect release of the coupling devices without disturbing the other operating lever.

In Figures 8 and 9 there is shown a further modification of the connection between the operating lever 64 and the cross bail 59. In principle the modified connection is the same as that illustrated in Figure 7; however, as will be pointed out, the danger of improper assembly of the parts by parties unfamiliar with the construction is completely obviated. In lieu of employing a forged U-shaped member, a cast member 10 is employed. This is provided with a leg H of circular cross section adapted to fit through the openings in the projections 62 and in the upper end of the arm 60 of the cross ball as well as through the loop 69 of the operating lever. The lower leg '12 and the vertically disposed connecting portion of the member 'lll may suitably be formed with a. T cross section. At the outer end of the leg 12 it may be forked and flattened out to permit the passage of the arm 60 of the bail between the branches of the fork. Suitable alined openings 13-may be formed in the. two sides of the fork and may be, adapted to receive a small bolt I4 for retaining the parts, in assembled condition. In the assembly of the parts the leg H of the U-shaped member is passed through the loop 69 and thealined. openings of the projections 62 and the bail arm 60. At the same time the adjacent portion of the arm 60; is passed between the forked extensions of the leg 12 and the bolt 14 is then passed through thejopenings, 13 to hold the parts together. Theoperation of this form of the invention is the same as that shown in Figure 7'. In addition to reducing the, cost of the assembly the employment, of the cas t.

ing in lieu of the forged round rod serves .to pre.-.;

' trated at 80 in Figure 12.

vent improper arrangement of the parts, such as the placing of the loop 69 over the lower leg of the U-shaped member. This loop will not fit over the lower leg 12 of the casting 10.

The connecting link 24 of Figures 1 to 3 and the corresponding link 55 of Figures 4 to 6 may be replaced by a cast member 15, if desired, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. This member may be provided with a hooked portion 15 adapted to be engaged in the opening 53, for example, in the member 48. At its opposite end the cast member may be bifurcated and provided with two relatively wide, fiat extensions 11. These are adapted to receive between them the cross bar 59 of the bail or the portion of the operating lever of the first form of the invention. A bolt 78 passed through suitable openings 19 in the extensions I1 may be employed to hold the parts in properly assembled positions. In the assembly of the parts with the cast member 15 its hook 16 is engaged in the opening 53 and the forked end is then slid over the cross bar of the bail which will have been previously secured in place, as explained before. The bolt 18 will finally be applied and the assembly will be complete. It will be apparent that to permit disassembly of the parts in the coupler head, the member 15 may simply be disengaged from the bar 59 after removal of the bolt 18 and the hook 16 may then be disengaged from the member 48. If desired the bolt 18 might be eliminated and a permanent connection provided between the ends of the extensions Tl, thus forming a slot in the end of the member. Such a modified member is illus- In that event to assemble the parts the member 15 would need to be slipped over one of the arms of the bail before the latter is attached to the frame.

While several illustrative forms of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the general spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, an integral member pivotally supported by said head, a link connecting said member with said lock, a

3 depending link pivotally connected at one end directly to said member at a point directly below said lock, said depending link having an elongated loop portion at its opposite end, a rock able operating member having an elongated crank portion extending horizontally transversely of the coupler adapted to slidably support the loop portion of said depending link for movement both laterally and longitudinally, and a member adapted to engage and operate said operating member.

2. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, means for operating said lock comprising a rockable element carried by a pair'of supports, one of said supports including a pivotally mounted U shaped member, a lever also supported by said U shaped member, said lever engaging one arm of said member and transmitting a force therethrough to the rockable member, and connections from the rockable member to said lock. 7

3. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, and means for operating said lock comprising a bail having depending arms, means providing a fixed axis for pivotally supporting said bail adjacent its opposite ends, said means having extensions in rear of the arms of said bail, and operating levers pivotally supported by said bail supporting means and adapted to rock said bail through engagement between said means and an arm of the bail.

4. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, a member pivotally supported by said head, a connection from said member to said lock, a longitudinally movable link having a hooked connection with said member for operating the same, a bail for moving said link and forming the sole support for one end thereof, and means for supporting said bail, said link having an elongated loop surrounding said bail, one side of said loop being formed by a flat plate to prevent turning of the link about its longitudinal axis.

5. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, and means for operating said lock comprising a rockable element, a U-shaped member having a leg of circular cross-section for supporting said element, the other leg of said U-shaped member being larger in cross section than said first mentioned leg and being adapted to engage said element to rock the same, and an operating lever having an opening adapted to surround said first mentioned leg of the U-shaped member and engaging the other leg to operate said element.

6. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, and means for operating said lock comprising a rockable element, a U-shaped supporting member having one leg adapted to pivotally support said element and having-its other leg bifurcated to receive a portion of said element, and an operating lever having an eye adapted to surround the first men tioned leg and having a portion engaging the other leg to operate said element.

'7. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a member pivotally supported by said head, a longitudinally movable link having a hooked connection with said member for operating the same, a bail for moving said link, said link having a bifurcated portion at one end adapted to receive said bail, at least one of the sides of the bifurcated portion presenting a broad flat surface to said bail to prevent turning of said link about its longitudinal axis, and an operating lever connected with said bail for operating the same.

8. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, a lever pivotally supported by said head in rear of said lock, said lever being connected with said lock to operate the latter, a crank-shaped member extending transversely of the car and pivotally mounted thereon to swing longitudinally thereof, and a rigid link terminating in a loop portion and connected with said crank-shaped member, said link forming the sole connection between said lever and member, said link, lever and member being so constructed and arranged as to maintain said lever and the arm of said crank-shaped member in substantial parallelism throughout the unlocking movements thereof.

9. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a lock mounted within said head, a lever pivotally supported by said head to the rear of said lock and extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom when said coupler is locked, and being adapted to swing upwarly to operate said look, a member with a crank portion mounted on the car with its axis extending transversely of said car, the crank portion of said member extending downwardly and forwardly when the coupler is locked, and a rigid link having a sliding engagement with said portion and forming the sole connection between said portion and said lever and carried thereby, said link maintaining said crank portion and said lever in substantial parallelism throughout the upwardly swinging movement of said lever.

10. In an uncoupling mechanism a member having hook-shaped portion at one end adapted to engage the uncoupling lever of a car coupler and having an elongated loop at its other end providing a connection permitting longitudinal and lateral sliding between said member, and an operating rod forming the sole support for one end of the member, said member being laterally widened at the inner end of said slot to provide an enlarged bearing between said member and rod to assist in maintaining said member perpendicular to said rod.

11. In a device of the class described including a coupler head and a lock mounted within said head, an integral member pivotally supported by said head, means to connect said member with said look, a depending link terminating in an elongated loop at one end and having its other end pivotally connected directly to said member, a rockable operating member passing through said loop, and fixed pivotal supports for said lastnamed member, said rockable member forming the sole support for the first mentioned end of said link.

12. In a device of the class described a coupler head, a vertically movable lock mounted within said head, an integral member pivotally supported by said head, a link connecting said memher with said look, a depending link pivotally connected at one end directly to said member at a point directly beneath said lock and a rockable operating member carried by fixed, spaced pivotal supports, said member having a crank portion cooperating with and forming the sole support for head, an integral member pivotally supported by said head, means to connect said member with said look, a depending link having one end pivotally connected directly to said member, a rockable operating member, and fixed pivotal supports for said last-named member, said rockable member forming the sole support for the other end of said link, and said link having an elongated loop portion surrounding said rockable member.

ARTHUR J. BAZELEY. 

